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I have lots to say but little time to share it! I'll think to myself, I really need to put this in blog form and then it doesn't happen. (grins sheepishly) If anyone wants to know how to make sweet tea or jalapeno poppers or how not to trim a tree, I have photos and posts in my head!
DH and I have started a website business. The website has been around for a while as a Bulletin Board owned by a friend. DH helped him keep it running because he understands teh html, teh php and other things that I don't. ;) Anyway, I digress... our friend grew tired of people asking for t-shirts and other perks that would've forced him to handle money and turn it into a business, so he handed it over to us... to turn into a business. Yay! but starting a business is hard work! So much paperwork, so many forms and things to keep track of and so many fees! It falls right in with our hobby of photographing off-road endurance races, though, so we did more of that this past weekend too. DH takes the photos, I take video and Brother K comes along and does some of both.
We're still working on our house and I'm still working on sewing projects. I took time away to actually crochet not too long ago (okay, it was in April) to make this sweet little bunting for Allison's nursery. She was sweet enough to include it in a series of posts she's done on the decorating process.
Well, that's mostly what I'm up to. The garden is happy, we've harvested many yellow squash, wax beans and cucumbers, but only one cherry tomato so far. It's been super hot here! I'm hoping to get a few sewing projects finished and make progress on house projects these next few weekends.
Pens & Needles is my etsy shop. It was originally my brother's idea, oh, two years ago. He draws and paints and I knit, crochet, sew and make some jewelry.
Just a shout out for Mor Aframian and ReDress Raleigh :) I've donated several Pens & Needles knit and crochet items to the MorLove and Redress Raleigh booth at the Green Bazaar on the Bicentennial Plaza from 11am to 5pm this Saturday, April 17. Proceeds will benefit the Amani Baby Cottage, an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda. The Redress fashion show is Saturday night and is SOLD OUT! I'm missing it to go camping and help DH take some photos and video, but I'm sure it will be amazing!
For much of last year I was signed up at the Wardrobe Refashion blog, to "abstain from the purchase of 'new' manufactured items of clothing... to refashion, renovate, recycle pre-loved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium."
That part was pretty easy, there hasn't been a lot of money to spend anyway! The second part of the pledge was to share photos and descriptions of my projects on the WR site. People all over the world have participated and I loved the inspiration! I also followed several people to their own blogs and enjoyed their posts about things other than sewing.
The founder of WR recently decided to change the format and part of that change involves a subscription to view tutorials and other things. Totally within her right and I don't know what costs she incurs to run it but, needless to say, there is still no money to spend on my end and the subscription is roughly $10/month. One of the other (quite prolific and talented) contributors was also dismayed by the change and, worried that the egalitarian nature of the shared projects would suffer, decided to start a new free site devoted to refashioning.
Without further ado, I introduce The Thrifty Garde Robe! I've signed on to be a contributor, along with about 20 other people, with several great projects already posted. I have lots of other projects going on around the house this spring, but I'm hoping to get back to the sewing machine soon!
I love making scarves, hats and things to give as gifts, but nothing beats Amigurumi in terms of being SO much fun and super rewarding... they're so darn cute! Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.*
I made a little piggie for our goddaughter, Sammie, for Christmas this year. Last year I made her a little yellow duck, so the farm animal theme is cute. The duck was a real success, given my novice crochet skills a year ago... and the fact that the pattern was for a fuzzy baby penguin! Basically, I figured that I could make it into any bird I wanted and then used a much smaller crochet hook than the pattern called for... it turned out well despite being completely 'wrong.' I still LOL about it.
Patterns are easy to find on the internet and many are free.** Instructables.com and crochetville.org are the sources for the two I've used and google finds all sorts of tutorials. The pig only took an evening in front of the tv to make! There are also patterns to buy on etsy and, if you're not the crafty type, there are shops like this one.
*from Wikipedia
**to make for yourself or to give them as gifts, of course.
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